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Sheva Berachos for a non-Jew

Is is permissible for a non-Jew (who knows Hebrew and is a good person) to recite one of the Sheva Brachot during Birkat HaMazon at an orthodox wedding?

Answer:

No, it is not permitted for a non-Jew to recite a blessing, even though he knows Hebrew and is a good person. Because a non-Jew is not obligated in reciting the blessings, and the blessings were enacted specifically for Jews, he cannot recite them on behalf of the Jewish attendees. He can, however, be honored in other ways, for example by being invited to say an additional ‘blessing’, which can be written especially for the occasion.

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2 Comments

  1. Kavod HaRav,

    What if after you were married, in my case 5 or 6 years after the chuppa/wedding, I now realized we gave a kibud of one of the sheva berachot of the wedding night to a yid who is not a shomer shabbos, in fact he considers himself reform, other than it not being preferable, after the fact is there any problem with this?

    Thank you

    1. As you say, this is not preferable, but after the fact there is no problem whatsoever. In fact, according to many authorities the berachah is still considered a berachah (see Birkas Hashem Chap. 6; Rav Pe’alim 3:12), and you need not be concerned at all.

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